E3 2007: Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 Hands-on

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We power up and create the power of the sun in our hands.

By Chris Roper

The powers of Dragon Ball Z never cease to amaze. Roughly the 128th game in the series, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 is on its way to the Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 2 later this year, and it promises to be bigger and better than ever.

Featuring an absolutely massive roster of more than 150 characters, including each of the 120 found in Budokai Tenkaichi 2, fans will be hard-pressed to find a character in the universe that isn't represented here. All of the returning characters have seen a makeover for greater detail, animations and so forth, so expect to see the best-looking Tenkaichi characters ever.

New levels and environments are also abound. One level we saw was a desert locale, similar to others we'd seen in the past, only this one was littered with more small rock formations for hiding, as well as a scattering of giant mushrooms. The scenery is all destructible, allowing for even bigger impacts when fighters are tossed into them. Another stage we saw featured a few domed huts in the middle of a destroyed city, with crashing buildings all around.

But while new content is nice, it's the gameplay that matters. The team went back to the drawing board a bit and refined the controls to make them easier and more accessible to its potential audience. Long combos can now be performed with a single button, which while taking out some of the skill needed in order to excel, means that a younger audience will be able to hop right in and kick some butt.

Another new addition is the Battle Replay Mode. After a fight, you'll be given the option to save a replay of the fight if you'd like, which you can then watch over and over again. The camera options here are still being worked on, but you'll at least be able to swap views and watch the battle from your opponent's view if you'd like.

The Wii and PlayStation 2 versions are identical in most respects, with perhaps a slight visual edge in the Wii's favor, but each has a unique characteristic or two. In the Wii's case, this is obviously its control scheme. One big change here is that the game no longer relies on the sensor bar for input. Everything is now relative to the Wiimote's movement, meaning that you don't need to point at the screen with pin-point precision in order to do battle. Special attacks are now easier to perform as well, with an icon appearing in the lower left-hand corner that shows you what gestures you need to perform when you're powered up for an attack.

In addition to its control scheme, the Wii version is also unique in that it will support online play. Some of the details here are being kept under wraps as things are still be worked out, but we do know that there will be a rankings system in place. There won't be fight lobbies or tournaments available, however.

While PlayStation 2 fans may be a little disappointed that the online is unique to Nintendo's console, PS2 gamers may rejoice knowing that they'll have access to the Disc Fusion System. This option allows you to unlock the Ultimate Battle mode by popping in a copy of either Tenkaichi 1 or 2. After it confirms you have the disc you'll be off and battling in no time.